Clicquot Ponsardin-, Pommery, Bollinger, are a number of eminent champagne House to have a special feature in common: their success is due primarily to the substance and the determination of the owners, once widowed, have managed to continue and improve the work initiated by their husbands in the wonderful world of French sparkling wine.

First of all the famous Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin who became widow of Francois Clicquot in 1805 at the young age of 25 years.

Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin

Nicole, known today as Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin-(Widow Clicquot Ponsardin-), do not lose heart and entrepreneurial verve and with the help of good sellers, overflowed ‘the Russia of his champagne, and St. Petersburg took the name Klikovskoje.
Visionary and arrogant just enough, with his stubbornness he managed ‘to improve the production techniques of creating bubbles, along with his Chef de Cave, the table of “riddling racks sur”, a technique still used today to concentrate in the neck of the bottle the sediments that form after the time spent on lees.

This woman has dedicated the flagship wine of Maison Clicquot Ponsardin-La Grande Dame bubbly nectar where they meet the two most ‘great vineyards of Champagne, Pinot Noir and the extent of 63% Chardonnay with 37%.

The sensory characteristics of this wonderful wine, in fact, are primarily dominated by the freshness of red fruit flavor and the accuracy of data from the Pinot Noir
As Madame Ponsardin La Grande Dame also reveals a strong and decisive, with well-delineated notes of strawberry and raspberry, a fresh and inviting aromas of great complexity.
And as the great widow reveals his greatness slowly. We must give him time and wait to know: only history will recognize its value.
The optimum would enjoy it in good company, as a meditation wine, between dances eyes and soft lights, at the end of an evening …. why not, it could continue.

Louise Pommery

In 1858 another forward-looking Frenchwoman, Louise Pommery, widow due to the untimely death of her husband, took over the company 39 years and only succeeded ‘to interpret the tastes of the English, the most’ high consumers of champagne to tutt ‘ today, and start ‘to produce Brut version, ie with a residual sugar sharply lower than what was normally added by the other Maison “liqueur d’expedition” for the rest of the European market.
Louise, the conqueror, succeeded ‘masterly in its intent and port in a few years’ production of Pommery from 45,000 to 2,250,000 bottles, building, underground chalk quarries dating back to Roman times, 18 miles of tunnels for’ aging of the bottles.

To celebrate this other lady of great wine, in 1979, created the Maison Cuvée Louise, 36% Pinot Noir and 64% Chardonnay.
A meeting of the same elegant wines offered at different percentages.

Hence the vehemence of the champagne is replaced by a previous balance of mellow taste sensations.
There are initial aromas of herbs, which leave the pitch immediately buttery and fruity with hints of peach and apricot, along with appealing notes of freshly baked cookies.

A Champagne of great class and elegance that even in his mouth, speaks with perfect smoothness and silkiness.
It has a nice texture, and a gentle approach. The finale is a return of toasted almonds, with a firm and resolute persistence, just as Madame Louise.
And ‘to enjoy pasteggiando so comfortable with a menu in the round, and has so much elegance that can adapt to all occasions and in all capacities.

Finally, coming in times more ‘modern I’d like to Madame Elizabeth Law de Lauriston Boubers, widow Bollinger, known worldwide as Lily Bollinger or, in a more’ affectionate, Tante (Aunt) Lily.

Madame Bollinger was widowed at the age of 42 years, in 1941.
In those years, Europe was devastated by World War II, the Germans invaded France, and under their employment, including fuel rations were reduced.
It was so ‘that Tante Lily start’ to inspect his vineyards by bike every day.
The image of Lily Bollinger, fully dressed, which runs through the vineyards with his “velo” (bicycle), becomes the icon of the Champagne of that period.

Lily Bollinger

Travel ‘across Europe to let the world know the peculiarities of his champagne and the skill with which it was produced.
Cared personally suits stages of winemaking, from vineyard to harvest, the fermentation in the cellar, the assembly of different cuvées.
Everything went to his control before being placed on the market.

So it is no wonder that the great success of our day Bollinger has to be dated to the accuracy of his system, still used today by major fashion house.

A champagne that among all the Bollinger Grande Année represents the most is produced only when the harvests are impeccable and only vintage.

The vinification of this champagne is on small wooden barrels, made by the Maison itself. The aging in the bottle is not made with the crown, as is commonly done, but with the cork. The “riddling” and disgorgement are performed exclusively by hand.

And ‘therefore undisputed that this champagne offers a panorama of sensations of smell and taste is very complex.
You immediately understand the notes of wood and cocoa butter, and, as always, a good fleshy fruit and rich as the predominance of Pinot Noir, 65%, assembled with Chardonnay, 35%.
The taste is truly a sensory experience limitless champagne …. that envelops the palate like a silk robe and emits a range of aromas so complex that enchant the senses like a belly dancer.
Spices, honey, tamarind, resin, almonds, each taste brings a different flavor, and you never stop to enjoy it.
As Mina says in his song: “… again and again and again …..”. With whom you choose to drink it!